Page 6
Duke University Medical Center, InterGom
June 1965
Laundry
(Continued from page 4)
According to Mr. Parrish, “the
average public still thinks of a laun
dry as just soap and water.”
This is certainly a proven miscon
ception at the Hospital Laundry,
where soiled articles are carefully
treated in the wash with not only
soap and water, but also: special
chemicals, a germicide, starch, and
bleaching agents. P]ach of these ad
ditions to the wash must be carefully
measured, with the selection depend
ing upon the type of article being
washed.
It is interesting to note that the
germicide is tested for effectiveness in
a lab at the Hospital before it is used
by the Laundry. The germicide pres
ently in use is so effective that if any
bacteria falls on a laundered article
from the time it is washed until
actually used, the bacteria will either
be killed or it will become dormant.
After it is washed, the linen, is
again sorted. Garments and “flat
work” items will be pressed, while
other articles will be tumbled dry and
folded.
work is done with the help of two
sewing machines and a special patch
ing machine.
When asked how many patches are
applied in a week’s time, Mr. Parrish
replied with a wry grin that to esti
mate the amount would be “like
counting the sands on the beach.”
The last “stage” in laundering is
the delivery of the articles to the
“clean linen area.” Plere they are
sorted again. Personal articles are
wrapped, while some items (such as
Photos by Jim Wallace
diapers) are simply folded and
placed in carts, ready for delivery.
Other articles are stored on shelves
until orders are received requesting
them.
From this “clean linen area” over
1250 personal bundles are sent each
week to the areas which the Laundry
serves. Included in the areas served
by the Laundry are: the Hospital,
Bell Building, Hanes House, East
Campus Infirmary and West Campus
Gymnasium.
It is difficult to adequately describe
the impression which is made on the
visitor to the new Laundry. Suffice it
to say that the facilities are most im
pressive and that the over-all impor
tance of this new plant is almost in
estimable when it is remembered that
in the Medical Center alone, there is
not one employee, student, patient or
visitor who is not served in some way
by the Laundry.
Speech Pathologists Meet at Duke
The Speech Pathology section of
the Southern Speech Association met
at Duke University Medical Center
recently for lectures and to observe
the speech pathology laboratory. Dif
ferent parts of tlie cinefluorographic
equipment, which is now available in
the Medical Speech Pathology sec-
tioji, were described and a demonstra
tion was conducted showing the
complete unit in operation. (See
photo below.)
Lectures were given by Drs. Mas-
sengill and Quinn regarding speech
pathology and speech therapy services
available at Duke. Cleft i)alate re
search now being conducted at the
Medical Center was also discussed.
There were approximately 12 states
represented among the 25 speech
pathologists in attendance.
Not only does the Laundry wash,
dry, fold and iron articles, however;
it also patches and mends all ward
and OR linens and does minor repair
work on uniforms, lab coats, etc. This
mrwr technique, speech pathologists here at
DUMC are better able to understand the basis of speech problems. Pathologists can study
the production of sound with this new technique and therefore can more readily locate
the source of a patient s speech problem. The cinefluorographic unit includes a syn
chronized tape recorder and television monitor (shown above) which enable the patholo
gist to observe movements inside the mouth that help make up sounds.